In Memoriam : Charlie Merritt

Visitation Information:A private service with military honors will be held for the family at a later date in Presque Isle. Dennett Craig and Pate Funeral Home, Saco is respectfully handling the arrangements with honor to our Veterans.

The family is forever grateful for the exceptional care he received at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough for the past year. The love and care he received, as well as the support for the family, is something the family will cherish.

Donations may be made in Charlie’s honor to the Maine Veterans Home, 290 U.S. Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074 for help in the future for Veteran Care

Obituary:Old Orchard Beach – Charlie Weston Merritt 87 passed away peacefully on August 21, 2018 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born on December 16, 1930 in Deblois, the son of Charles and Evelyn Hall Merritt.

Charlie was a devoted husband of 62 years to his loving wife Ruth (Bernard) Merritt of Presque Isle. He was a doting father and grandfather, always ready with Band-Aids and Bactine for scrapes and bug bites. In retirement, he and Ruth bought a farm in Sangerville, where their grandchildren could visit and play in a river on the property.

Charlie had a 20-year career with the Air Force as a T/Sgt and aircraft mechanic, having enlisted with his brother in 1951. He had a tour of duty with the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron in DaNang, Vietnam. He was a mechanic for the “Black Widow” F-4 Phantom Pilots.

After retiring from the USAF, Charlie apprenticed to become a welder at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He was the “Welder of Choice” in his day. He never said no to a job, sometimes welding in cramped torpedo tubes. He had a second career there for 17 years.

He was a man of his word and had a deep love for his country. He was given a special flag that had flown over the Pearl Harbor Memorial and flew it only on Pearl Harbor Day. After becoming friendly with a WWII Veteran who worked at his local grocery store, he surprised the gentleman by bringing the flag into him. Charlie wanted him to have it, feeling he was more deserving of it.

Charlie was predeceased by his parents and only sibling, brother Arthur Merritt.

He is survived by his wife Ruth (Bernard), daughter Laurie, and sons Mitchell and Michael, 4 grandchildren Lindsey, Paul, Patricia and Michael and 2 great-grandchildren Logan and Olivia.